Nurse Charged With Murdering 7 Babies Goes On Trial

A nurse accused of murder and attempts to murder of babies in a year-long killing spree goes on trial.

Children's nurse Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of the murder of five boys and two girls along with the attempt to murder charges of another five boys and five girls, between June 2015 and June 2016.

Letby, who grew up in Hereford is now living on Arran Avenue, in south Hereford. She was working in the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester at the time of the alleged murders and attempted murders of the babies, reports said.

All accusations of murder and attempts to murder have been denied by the defendant as she continues to plead not guilty. Letby was wearing a dark suit, with her hair let down over her shoulders, when she appeared before Manchester Crown court by video link from HMP Peterborough, where she was on remand, in October 2021.

The 80-minute hearing dealt with matters ahead of the trial which cannot be reported, and Ms. Letby spoke only to confirm her name. The trial at Manchester Crown Court which began on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 10 am is expected to last up to a period of six months.

Her parents, 76-year-old John and 62-year-old Susan watched as proceedings were relayed to annex courtrooms attended by families of the children involved and members of the press.

A court order prohibits reporting the identities of surviving and deceased children allegedly attacked by Letby, along with the identification of parents or witnesses connected with the children.

The hearing has been adjourned until Thursday, Oct. 6 when a legal argument is expected to take place.

It was earlier this year when Lucy Letby was initially charged with the murder of eight babies and trying to kill another 10.

On June 10, at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court Nick Johnson QC said that the prosecution was not offering any evidence on one of the counts of murder. Mr. Justice Goss formally directed a verdict of not guilty to be recorded on that count.